tarnish
To oxidize or discolor due to oxidationTo oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
» Our reputation has been tarnished.
Наша репутация запятнана.
Наша репутация опорочена.
Meaning
4 senses(intransitive)To oxidize or discolor due to oxidation.
Careful storage of silver will prevent it from tarnishing.
anlaufen, matt werden, beschlagen
тускне́тьtusknétʹ, де́лать ту́склымdélatʹ túsklym
(transitive)To compromise, damage, soil, or sully.
He is afraid that she will tarnish his reputation if he disagrees with her.
trüben, beeinträchtigen, beflecken
пятна́тьpjatnátʹ, поро́читьporóčitʹ
(figuratively, intransitive)To lose its lustre or attraction; to become dull.
To use a sign, image, expression, etc. sufficiently close to a trademarked one that it brings disrepute to it.
- make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically
Examples
15 sentencesOur reputation has been tarnished.
ruНаша репутация запятнана.
Her reputation was tarnished by gossip.
Mary's reputation was tarnished by gossip.
Mary's reputation was tarnished by malicious gossip.
deMarias Ruf wurde von bösartigen Gerüchten getrübt.
His reputation has seen better days, tarnished by recent controversies.
Translations
6 languagesBy meaning 2
By meaning 2
Origin
From Middle English ternysshen, from Old French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dim, maFrom Middle English ternysshen, from Old French terniss-, stem of ternir (“to make dim, make wan”), borrowed from Old High German *ternen, tarnen, from Proto-West Germanic *darnijan (“to conceal”). Doublet of dern and darn.
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Forms
tarnishes, tarnishing, tarnished, tarnishedSynonyms
110 synonymsWord family
7 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle